Video game system

ABSTRACT

A video game system has a game supplier and a terminal device connected to the game supplier through a transmission line. The terminal device has a plurality of game units on which a video game program is played. A first memory is provided in the game supplier wherein a plurality of video game programs are stored. The video game program is transmitted to the terminal device. A second memory is provided in the terminal device for storing the video game programs transmitted from the game supplier. A third memory is provided in the game unit for storing information on playing condition of the video game program. A calculator is provided in the game supplier for calculating a charge for using the video programs in accordance with the information stored in the third memory and applied to the calculator through the transmission line.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a video game system having a gamesupplier and a plurality of terminal devices each connected to the gamesupplier through a transmission line and having a plurality of videogame units.

Of various video game units installed in an amusement facility, somehave memory devices such as a RAM and ROM wherein a video game programplayed on the game unit is stored. By setting another memory device, orby changing the program stored therein, various games can be played onthe same unit.

In order to play a game on one of these units, the player inserts coins,bills or token money therein. While the management of the amusementfacility makes a profit from the charge, a certain percentage thereofmust be paid to the game supplier as a charge for using the gameprogram.

Namely, the personnel of the game supplier periodically visits theamusement facilities to count the charge of each game unit or of eachgame program stored in the game unit. The personnel further calculatesthe game program charge and collects the charge.

As described above, since the calculation and collecting of the chargemust be done where the game units are provided, these operations arequite troublesome, particularly in the case where the amusementfacilities are located distant from the game supplier, or the facilitiesand the game units are located distant from one another. Moreover, theremay be an error in calculation, or there may even been a fraud, therebyresulting in trouble between the game supplier and the user of the gameprograms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a video game systemwhere the charge for using the video game programs can be quickly andaccurately calculated, charged and collected, thereby releasing the gamesupplier from burdensome operations.

According to the present invention, there is provided a video gamesystem having a game supplier and a terminal device connected to thegame supplier through a transmission line and having a plurality of gameunits comprising a first memory provided in the game supplier wherein aplurality of video game programs are stored, transmitting means forderiving a video game program from the first memory and for transmittingthe program to the terminal device, a second memory provided in theterminal device for storing the video game programs transmitted from thegame supplier, a display provided on each of the game units fordisplaying the video game program stored in the second memory, andoperating means for operating the game unit.

A third memory is provided for storing information on playing conditionof each of the video game programs, calculating means is provided in thegame supplier for calculating a charge for using the video programs inaccordance with the information stored in the third memory and appliedto the calculating means through the transmission line, and chargingmeans is provided in the game supplier and communicated with a bankingorgan so as to draw out the charge calculated by the calculating meansby way of on-line processing.

The other objects and features of this invention will become understoodfrom the following description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a video game system according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a game unit provided in the system of FIG.1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are flowcharts describing operations of a game supplierand a terminal device in the system for transmitting and receiving avideo game program, respectively;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are flowcharts describing operations of the gamesupplier and the terminal device, respectively, for showing a playinginstructions of the video game program;

FIGS. 5a and 5b are flowcharts describing operations of the gamesupplier and the terminal device, respectively, for replacing a videogame program based on an account information;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are flowcharts describing operations of the gamesupplier and the terminal device, respectively, for replacing a videogame program based on a playing times information;

FIGS. 7a and 7b are flowcharts describing operations of the gamesupplier and the terminal device, respectively, for collecting a chargebased on the playing times information;

FIGS. 8a and 8b are flowcharts describing operations of the gamesupplier and the terminal device, respectively, for collecting a chargebased on the account information;

FIGS. 9a and 9b are flowcharts describing operations of the gamesupplier and the terminal device, respectively, for showing an order ofthe points scored in each game unit; and

FIG. 10 is an illustration showing a format of data transmitted in thesystem of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a video game system according to the presentinvention comprises a game supplier 100 of a game supplier and aplurality of terminal devices 200 each provided at amusement facilitiesor homes and connected to the game supplier 100 through a transmissionline 300. Only one of the terminal devices 200 is shown in the figurefor the ease of explanation.

Provided in the game supplier 100 are an information controllingcomputer 104 for controlling the operation of the game supplier 100, amemory device 101 comprising a floppy disc or a hard disc, a datatransmitting computer 102 for processing information stored in thememory device 101 for transmission, and a data transmitting modem 103.The memory device 101 stores a single or a plurality of video gameprograms and playing instructions for each game program and anidentification program ID of each game program. A plurality of memorydevices 101 are provided when only one program is stored in one device.The memory device 101 is connected to a game developer section 500 whichdevelops various game softwares. The softwares are applied to the memorydisc 101 through a transmission line or stored in a memory medium whichis carried from the developer section 500 and installed in the memorydevice 101. The program ID code allotted to each game program is alsostored in an internal memory of the information controlling computer 104together with a terminal ID code of each of the terminal devices 200connected to the game supplier and a game unit ID code of each of thegame units provided in the terminal devices.

Upon operation of the information controlling computer 104, theinformation such as the video game program and the playing instructionsthereof is derived from the memory device 101 and fed to the datatransmitting computer 102 so as to be processed. The data is further fedto the modem 103 which modulates the data so as to be fit to betransmitted to the terminal device 200 through the transmission line300.

The modem 103 demodulates data transmitted from the terminal device 200to the game supplier 100 through the transmission line 300. Thetransmitted data are, for example, an account information, that is anamount of money accumulated for playing each game, and playing timesinformation on how many times each game was played. The data are fed tothe information controlling computer 104 wherein the charge account ofeach terminal device 200 is calculated based on the information. Theinformation controlling computer 104 is connected to banks 400, localpost offices and other banking organs to which the account is fed.Hence, the game charge is drawn from a bank account of each user of theterminal device 200 through an on-line system.

The terminal device 200 comprises a data transmitting modem 201connected to the modem 103 of the game supplier through the transmissionline 300, data controller 202 and a plurality of game units 210. Thevideo game program and the playing instructions transmitted from thegame supplier 100 are demodulated by the modem 201 and fed to the datacontroller 202 where error check and correcting operation thereof areexecuted. The accurate game programs and instructions are applied toeach game unit 210. The data controller 202 has a memory for storing theterminal ID code of the present terminal device 200 and the unit IDcodes of the game units 210 connected thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2, each of the game units 210 is connected to the datacontroller 202 through interfaces 219 and 220. The game unit 210comprises a CPU 211 for controlling the overall operation of the gameunit, ROM 212 which stores a program for operating the CPU 211, RAM 213for storing a plurality of video game programs, for example, fourprograms, transmitted from the game supplier 100 and the ID codesthereof.

Further provided in the game unit 210 are an operating device 214 forselecting one of the video program stored in the RAM 213 and playing thegame, display 215 such as a CRT display on which the game is shown,sound emitter 216 which emits sound effects accompanying the game,small-sized display 217 such as a liquid-crystal display for showing theplaying instructions of the game, and a charge receiving device 218 inwhich a player inserts coins, bills or token money for playing the game.The devices provided in the game unit 210 are connected to each otherthrough a bus 221.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the terminal device 200 is further providedwith an account information collector 203 and a playing timesinformation collector 204, each connected to the game unit 210 throughthe interface 220.

More particularly, in order to pay a video game on the game unit 210, aplayer inserts coins, bills or token money of a predetermined amount inthe charge receiving device 218 thereof, and by operating the operatingdevice 214, selects a game program of his choice stored in the RAM 213.The CPU 211 determines that a sufficient amount of money is insertedbefore executing the selected program. The account, together with theunit ID code and the program ID code are applied to the accountinformation collector 203 through the interface 220 and stored therein.Furthermore, each time a video game is played, the program ID codethereof and the unit ID code are applied as the playing timesinformation to the playing times information collector 204 through theinterface 220 and stored therein. Only one of the account informationcollector 204 may be provided.

The operation of the video game system is described hereinafter. Firstof all, the operation for transmitting a video game program from thegame supplier 100 to the terminal device is described with reference toFIGS. 3a and 3b, each showing the operation of the informationcontrolling computer 104 of the game supplier 100 and data controller202 of the terminal device 200, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3a, at a step Sa1, the information controllingcomputer 104 determines that a video game program is to be transmittedto one of the game units 210 of the terminal device 200. Moreparticularly, the transmission of the video game program is executedperiodically, upon a request from the user of the terminal device 200,or in accordance with information such as the account and playing timesinformation.

In the case of a periodical, for example, a monthly transmission, theinformation controlling computer 104 checks the calendar providedtherein and determines that the present day is the predetermined date ofthe transmission. Alternatively, the user of the terminal device 200makes a request to the game supplier 100 by such means as a telephonecall to transmit a new video game program to a determined game unit 210.The operation for determining the transmission based on the informationfrom the terminal device 200 will be later described in detail.

When the transmission is determined at the step Sa1 shown in FIG. 3a, ata step Sa2, the information control computer 104 produces an eraseinformation including an erase instruction, the terminal ID code of theterminal device 200 concerned, the game unit ID code of the game unit210 which stores the game program to be replaced, and the program IDcode of the game program. The erase information is transmitted to thedata controller 202 of the appropriate terminal device 200 through themodem 103, transmission line 300 and the modem 201. After the datacontroller 202 determines that the erase information is received at astep Sb1 of the program in FIG. 3b, the controller 202 compares theterminal ID code included in the erase information with the terminal IDcode stored therein. When the ID codes coincide, the controllerdesignates one of the game units 210, the game unit ID code of which isincluded in the erase information and transmits the erase instruction tothe CPU 211 thereof through the interface 219 (FIG. 2). The CPU 211accordingly makes an access to the game program of the designatedprogram ID which is stored in the RAM 213, thereby erasing the gameprogram in the RAM 213 at a step Sb2. The CPU 211 then produces an erasecompletion signal which is fed to the data controller 202 and further tothe game supplier 100 at a step Sb3.

When the erase completion signal is received at a step Sa3 of FIG. 3a,the information controlling computer 104 selects predetermined one ofthe plurality of video game programs stored in the memory device 101 ata step Sa4. More particularly, the information controlling computer 104indicates a program ID code of the selected video game program. Anoperator of the game supplier 100 sees the ID code and picks out thememory device 101 such as a floppy disc on which the selected program isrecorded. The memory device 101 is manually set in the data transmittingcomputer 102 by the operator.

Alternatively, the information controlling computer 104 applies theprogram ID code and a game program select instruction to the memorydevice 101, so that the game program is automatically read out from thememory device 101 and applied to the data transmitting computer 102.

At a step Sa5, the information controlling computer 104 divides the gameprogram into packets and, as shown in FIG. 10, appends to it a cyclicredundancy check (CRC) code for checking errors in the data of theprogram, and a correcting code for correcting the data. The program IDcode, terminal ID code, game unit ID code, and the date of thetransmission are further appended to the program, thereby forming atransmission data. The transmission data is fed to the data transmittingcomputer 102 and further to the modem 103. The modem 103 modulates thedata which is then transmitted through the transmission line 300 at astep Sa6.

The transmission data is demodulated at the modem 201 and applied to thedata controller 202 at a step Sb4 shown in FIG. 3b. The data controller202 compares the terminal ID code in the transmission data with that ofthe present terminal device 200. When the ID codes coincide with eachother at a step Sb5, the errors in the demodulated game program arechecked in accordance with the CRC code transmitted therewith. When itis determined that there is an error in the program, the data in thegame program is corrected in accordance with the correcting code.

When it is determined at a step Sb6 that the error cannot be correctedwith the correcting code, the data controller 202 produces aretransmission demand signal which is applied to the game supplier 100through the modem 201 and the transmission line at a step Sb7.

The information controlling computer 104 of the game supplier 100accordingly receives the retransmission demand signal through the modem103 at a step Sa7, and accordingly instructs the data transmittingcomputer to retransmit the transmission data set therein at the stepSa5. The transmission data is thus again transmitted through thetransmission line 300 at a step Sa8.

The steps Sb4 to Sb7 and the steps Sa7 and Sa8 are repeated until thecorrect data is transmitted to the terminal device 200 and the erroneousdata therein is corrected. When it is determined at a step Sb8 that theerror check and data correction are completed, a transmission completionsignal is fed to the game supplier 100. The operation of the informationcontrolling computer 104 ends with the receipt of the transmissioncompletion signal at a step Sa9.

Meanwhile, the data controller 202 compares the unit ID code included inthe transmission data with the unit ID codes stored in a memory thereofand selects the game unit 210 having the transmitted ID code at a stepSb10. The data controller 202 further applies a store instruction to theCPU 211 of the selected game unit 210 so that the transmitted gameprogram and the program ID code thereof are fed through the interface220 and stored in the RAM 213 at a step Sb11. Thus a new game can beplayed on the game unit 210.

The transmission completion signal may be transmitted to the gamesupplier after the game program is stored in the RAM 213.

Referring to FIGS. 4a and 4b, playing instructions of the game programare also transmitted from the game supplier 100 to the terminal device200 before or after the game program is transmitted.

Referring to FIG. 4a, at a step Sc1, the information controllingcomputer 104 determines that playing instruction are to be transmittedto one of the game units 210 of the terminal device 200 before or afterthe transmission of the video game program is executed. At a step Sc2,the information control computer 104 produces an erase informationincluding an erase instruction, the terminal ID code of the terminaldevice 200 concerned, the game unit ID code of the game unit 210 whichstores the playing instructions to be replaced, and the program ID codeof the game program, the playing instructions of which is to bereplaced. The erase information is transmitted to the data controller202 of the appropriate terminal device 200 through the modem 103,transmission line 300 and the modem 201. After the data controller 202determines that the erase information is received at a step Sd1 of theprogram in FIG. 4b, the controller 202 compares the terminal ID codeincluded in the erase information with the terminal ID code storedtherein. When the ID codes coincide, the controller 202 designates oneof the game units 210, the game unit ID code of which is included in theerase information and transmits the erase instruction to the CPU 211thereof through the interface 219 (FIG. 2). The CPU 211 accordinglymakes an access to the playing instructions of the designated program IDwhich are stored in the RAM 213, thereby erasing the playing instructionin the RAM 213 at a step Sd2. The CPU 211 then produces an erasecompletion signal which is fed to the data controller 202 and further tothe game supplier 100 at a step Sd3.

When the erase completion signal is received at a step Sc3 of FIG. 4a,the information controlling computer 104 selects playing instructions ofthe video game program which was or will be transmitted from the playinginstructions stored in the memory device 101 at a step Sc4. Moreparticularly, the information controlling computer 104 indicates aprogram ID code of the selected playing instructions. The operator ofthe game supplier 100 sees the ID code and picks out the memory device101 such as a floppy disc on which the selected instructions arerecorded. The memory device 101 is manually set in the data transmittingcomputer 102 by the operator.

Alternatively, the information controlling computer 104 applies theprogram ID code and a playing instructions select instruction to thememory device 101, so that the playing instructions are automaticallyread out from the memory device 101 and applied to the data transmittingcomputer 102.

At a step Sc5, the information controlling computer 104 divides theplaying instructions into packets and, as similarly shown in FIG. 10,appends to it a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code for checking errorsin the data of the program, and a correcting code for correcting thedata. The program ID code, terminal ID code, game unit ID code, and thedate of the transmission are further appended to the playinginstructions, thereby forming a transmission data. The transmission datais fed to the data transmitting computer 102 and further to the modem103. The modem 103 modulates the data which is then transmitted throughthe transmission line 300 at a step Sc6.

The transmission data is demodulated at the modem 201 and applied to thedata controller 202 at a step Sd4 shown in FIG. 4b. The data controller202 compares the terminal ID code in the transmission data with that ofthe present terminal device 200. When the ID codes coincide with eachother at a step Sd5, the errors in the demodulated game program arechecked in accordance with the CRC code transmitted therewith. When itis determined that there is an error in the program, the data in theplaying instruction is corrected in accordance with the correcting code.

When it is determined at a step Sd6 that the error cannot be correctedwith the correcting code, the data controller 202 produces aretransmission demand signal which is applied to the game supplier 100through the modem 201 and the transmission line at a step Sd7.

The information controlling computer 104 of the game supplier 100accordingly receives the retransmission demand signal through the modem103 at a step Sc7, and accordingly instructs the data transmittingcomputer to retransmit the transmission data set therein at the stepSc5. The transmission data is thus again transmitted through thetransmission line 300 at a step Sc8.

The steps Sd4 to Sd7 and the steps Sc7 and Sc8 are repeated until thecorrect data is transmitted to the terminal device 200 and the erroneousdata therein is corrected. When it is determined at a step Sd8 that theerror check and data correction are completed, a transmission completionsignal is fed to the game supplier 100. The operation of the informationcontrolling computer 104 ends with the receipt of the transmissioncompletion signal at a step Sc9.

Meanwhile, the data controller 202 compares the unit ID code included inthe transmission data with the unit ID codes stored in a memory thereofand selects the game unit 210 having the transmitted ID code at a stepSd10. The data controller 202 further applies a store instruction to theCPU 211 of the selected game unit 210 so that the transmitted playinginstructions and the program ID code thereof are fed through theinterface 220 and stored in the RAM 213 at a step Sd11. Therefore, theCPU 211 reads out the playing instructions as required, and indicatesthem on the display 217.

The transmission completion signal may be transmitted to the gamesupplier after the playing instructions are store in the RAM 213.

Thus, it is not necessary to change a label showing the playinginstructions whenever the game program is changed.

In accordance with the present invention, unpopular game programs storedin the game units 210 are automatically replaced with new programs.FIGS. 5a and 5b show operations of the information controlling computer104 and the data controller 202, respectively, for changing the programin accordance with the account information.

Referring to FIG. 5b, the data controller 203 confirms at a step Sf1that an account information including the amount of money inserted inthe game unit and the ID codes of the game unit and the game program isapplied from the game unit 210 to the account information collector 203.The account information together with the time and date of thetransmission is stored in the account information collector 203 at astep Sf2.

Referring to FIG. 5a, at a step Se1, the information controllingcomputer 104 of the game supplier 100 periodically, for example, once amonth, applies an account information demand signal to each terminaldevice 200 to have the account information stored in the accountinformation collector 203 transmitted thereto. The data controller 202,detecting the demand signal at a step Sf3, retrieves the accountinformation and the times and dates from the accounting informationcollector 203 and transmits the information to the game supplier 100through the modem 201 and the transmission line 300 at a step Sf4. Whenthe information controlling computer 104 of the game supplier 100receives the account information at a step Se2, the amount of theaccount of each game program installed in each game unit is added up ata step Se3. The information controlling computer 104 determines at astep Se4, game programs which were played only a limited number of timesand hence having low earning rates. Thereafter, the informationcontrolling computer 104 is operated to replace the determined gameprograms and their respective playing instructions with new gameprograms and playing instructions as described above with reference toFIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b.

The unprofitable game programs may be similarly exchanged with anotherprograms based on the playing times information which is stored in theplaying times collector 204 as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b.

Referring to FIG. 6b, the data controller 203 confirms at a step Sh1that playing times information including the number of times each gameprogram was played in each game unit and the ID codes of the game unitand the game program, is applied from the game unit 210 to the playingtimes information collector 204. The playing times information togetherwith the time and date of the transmission is stored in the playingtimes information collector 204 at a step Sh2.

Referring to FIG. 6a, at a step Sg1, the information controllingcomputer 104 of the game supplier 100 periodically, for example, once amonth, applies a account information demand signal to each terminaldevice 200 to have the playing times information stored in the playingtimes information collector 204 transmitted thereto. The data controller202, detecting the demand signal at a step Sh3, retrieves the playingtimes information and the times and dates from the playing timesinformation collector 204 and transmits the information to the gamesupplier 100 through the modem 201 and the transmission line 300 at astep Sh4.

When the information controlling computer 104 of the game supplier 100receives the playing times information at a step Sg2, the number oftimes each game program in each game unit was played is added up at astep Sg3. The information controlling computer 104 determines at a stepSg4, game programs which were played only a limited number of times andhence having low earning rates. Thereafter, the information controllingcomputer 104 is operated to replace the determined game programs andtheir respective playing instructions with new game programs and playinginstructions as described above with reference to FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and4b.

The user of the terminal device 200 thus need not trouble to manuallycalculate the revenue of each program in each game unit and ask theoperator of the game supplier 100 to change the program. Theunprofitable game programs can be automatically determined and replacedwith another instead.

The operation for automatically calculating the game charge incurred onthe user of the terminal device based on the playing times informationand drawing the charge from a bank account is described hereinafter withreference to FIGS. 7a and 7b. FIGS. 7a and 7b describe the operations ofthe information controlling computer 104 of the game supplier 100 andthe data controller 202 of the terminal device 200, respectively.

The playing times information collector 204 stores informationconcerning how many times each game program in each game unit 210 wasplayed, and ID codes of the game program and the game unit. Theinformation controlling computer 104 of the game supplier 100periodically transmits the playing times information demand signal (stepSi1). Upon receipt of the demand signal at a step Sj1, the datacontroller 202 of the terminal device 200 reads out from the collector204 the playing times, game program ID code, game unit ID code, and thetime and date on which the information was applied to the collector 204,and transmits the information to the game supplier 100 through the modem201 and the transmission line 300 at a step Sj2. When the information isdetected at a step Si2, the playing times is counted in accordance witheach game ID code and each game unit ID code at a step Si3. The chargeper play is stored with the program ID code in the informationcontrolling computer 104 or in the memory device 101. Thus theinformation controlling computer 104 reads out the charge per play ofthe game program at a step Si4. The charge per play is multiplied by thenumber of playing times so that the charge for using each game programis obtained. The charge of each game unit 210 is further calculated andadded with those of other game units 210 in the terminal device. Hencethe total charge payable by the user of the terminal device 200 iscalculated at the step Si5. The period during which the charge iscalculated is determined by the date which is included in the playingtimes information stored in the playing times information collector 204.

At a step Si6, the information controlling computer 104 of the gamesupplier 100 then automatically draws out the charge from the bankaccount belonging to the user of each terminal device 200 by way ofon-line processing.

To confirm that the game charge was drawn, and invoice, bill and areceipt are mailed to the user. The charge for replacing the gameprograms as hereinbefore described can also be added to the totalcharge.

Thereafter, the information controlling computer 104 executes aprocedure for erasing the information stored in the playing timesinformation collector 204. Namely, at a step Si7, the informationcontrolling computer 104 transmits an erase information including anerase instruction, terminal ID code, game program ID code and the timeand date of the input, to the data controller 202 of each terminaldevice 200. When the erase information is received at a step Sj3, thedata controller 202 compares the transmitted terminal ID code with thatstored in the memory thereof, and when they coincide with each other,the corresponding information in the playing times information collector204 is erased at a step Sj4. When the information is erased, the datacontroller 202 produces an erase completion signal at a step Sj5. Theprogram ends when the information controlling computer 104 receives theerase completion signal at a step SiS.

The charge can be calculated based on the account information andcollected through the bank account in the similar manner as shown inFIGS. 8a and 8b.

The account information collector 203 stores information concerning theamount of money charged for executing each game program in each gameunit 210, and ID codes of the game program and the game unit. Theinformation controlling computer 104 of the game supplier 100periodically transmits the account information demand signal (step Sk1).Upon receipt of the demand signal at a step Sl1, the data controller 202of the terminal device 200 reads out from the collector 203 the account,game program ID code, game unit ID code, and the time and date on whichthe information was applied to the collector 203, and transmits theinformation to the game supplier 100 through the modem 201 and thetransmission line 300 at a step Sk2. When the information is detected ata step Sk2, the playing times is calculated based on the account andcounted in accordance with each game ID code and each game unit ID codeat a step Sk3. The charge per play is stored with the program ID code inthe information controlling computer 104 or in the memory device 101.Thus the information controlling computer 104 reads out the charge perplay of the game program at a step Sk4. The charge per play ismultiplied by the number of playing times so that the charge for usingeach game program is obtained. The charge of each game unit 210 isfurther calculated and added with those of other game units 210 in theterminal device. Hence the total charge payable by the user of theterminal device 200 is calculated at the step Si5. The period duringwhich the charge is calculated is determined by the date which isincluded in the playing times information stored in the account playingtimes information collector 203.

At a step Sk6, the information controlling computer 104 of the gamesupplier 100 then automatically draws out the charge from the bankaccount belonging to the user of each terminal device 200 by way ofon-line processing.

To confirm that the game charge was drawn, an invoice, bill and areceipt are mailed to the user. The charge for replacing the gameprograms as hereinbefore described can also be added to the totalcharge.

Thereafter, the information controlling computer 104 executes aprocedure for erasing the information stored in the playing timesinformation collector 203. Namely, at a step Sk7, the informationcontrolling computer 104 transmits an erase information including anerase instruction, terminal ID code, game program ID code and the timeand date of the input, to the data controller 202 of each terminaldevice 200. When the erase information is received at a step S13, thedata controller 202 compares the transmitted terminal ID code with thatstored in the memory thereof, and when they coincide with each other,the corresponding information in the account information collector 203is erased at a step S14. When the information is erased, the datacontroller 202 produces an erase completion signal at a step S15. Theprogram ends when the information controlling computer 104 receives theerase completion signal at a step Sk8.

Thus the charge is automatically drawn out of the bank account so thatthe personnel of the game supplier 100 no longer needs to make therounds of the terminal devices 200 and collect the charge from each gameunits 210. Hence the collecting operation becomes easy and accurate. Itis extremely convenient in cases where the number of the terminaldevices 200 are large and are located distant from the game supplier 100and from one another.

The operation for indicating the order of the game units 201 withrespect to the point scored on each game unit will be described withreference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 9a and 9b.

A competition of a predetermined video game is held between a pluralityof game units 210 of the terminal device 200 or between game units ofthe numerous terminal devices 200. When one of the competitors finishesplaying the video game at a step Sn1 shown in FIG. 9b, the score of thegame is transmitted from the CPU 211 to the data controller 202 throughone of the interfaces 219 and 220, and other interfaces not shown. Thedata controller 202 appends the terminal ID code, game unit ID code andthe game program ID code to the score information and transmits them tothe game supplier at a step Sn2. The information controlling computer104 receives the information at a step Sm1 shown in FIG. 9a and storesthe information in the internal memory thereof at a step Sm2.

The steps Sm1 and Sm2 are repeated until scores from all of theparticipating game units 210 are transmitted. When it is determined thatthe scores are all transmitted at a step Sm3, the scores within eachgame unit or within each terminal device are ranged in order of theachieved points. The information on the order including the score andorder of a particular game unit, the ID code of the game unit, theterminal ID code of the game unit, program ID code, scores and orders ofother game units and their ID codes, and the time and date, istransmitted to each terminal device 200 at a step Sm5.

When the order information is received at a step Sn3, the datacontroller 202 at the terminal device 200 determines at a step Sn4 thegame unit 210 to which the information is to be transmitted based on thegame unit code included in the information. Thereafter, the datacontroller 202 applies the order information to the determined game unit210 at a step Sn5. The CPU 211 of the game unit 210 accordinglyindicates on the display 215 or the display 217 the score and the orderof the score of the game unit 210 and those of other game units.

Thus, when the same game is played on various game units of differentterminal devices 200, the game supplier 100 determines the order of eachgame unit based on the score and applies the order number to eachterminal device. Hence, although the terminal devices 200 or the gameunits 210 may be located far away from one another, the order or eachgame unit can be easily informed to the competitors, thereby increasingthe interest of the game.

The present invention may be modified to provide a ROM instead of theRAM 213 in each game unit 210, in which case the data controller 202 isprovided with a ROM writer and the interface 219 is obviated. In orderto replace an unprofitable game program stored in the ROM, the ROM istaken out of the game unit 210 by hand and set in the ROM writer. TheROM writer erases the game program and further writes a new video gameprogram transmitted from the game supplier 100 to the data controller202. The playing instructions of the games are also stored and erased inthe same manner.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the present inventionprovides a video game system where the charge for using the gameprograms is calculated at the game supplier and drawn out from the bankaccount of the user of the terminal device. Thus the game supplier nolonger needs to have the personnel thereof make rounds of the terminaldevices to collect the charge. Moreover, the calculation and thecollecting of the charge are quickly carried out without error. Themerits brought about by the present invention are even more advantageouswhen the terminal devices are located distant from the game supplier orfrom one another.

While the presently preferred embodiments of the present invention havebeen shown and described, it is to be understood that these disclosuresare for the purpose of illustration and that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A video game system having a game supplier and aterminal device connected to the game supplier through a transmissionline and said terminal device having a plurality of game units, saidvideo game system comprising:a first memory provided in the gamesupplier wherein a plurality of video game programs are stored;transmitting means for deriving a video game program from the firstmemory and for transmitting the program to the terminal device throughthe transmission line; a second memory, provided in the terminal device,for storing the video game programs transmitted from the game supplier;a display, provided on each of the game units, for displaying the videogame program stored in the second memory; operating means for operatingthe game unit; a third memory, provided in the terminal device, forstoring information on playing condition of each of the video gameprograms; calculating means, provided in the game supplier, forretrieving the information stored in the third memory through thetransmission line and for calculating a charge for using the videoprograms in accordance with the information; and charging means,provided in the game supplier, for communication with a banking organ soas to draw out the charge calculated by the calculation means by way ofon-line processing.
 2. The video game system according to claim 1wherein the transmitting means has appending means for appending a dataerror check code and a data correcting code to the video game programfor checking and correcting the data therein, and the terminal devicehas processing means for checking and correcting the data in thetransmitted video game program in accordance with the data error checkcode and a data correcting code, wherein the processing means applies aretransmission demand signal to the transmitting means when errors inthe video game program are not corrected.
 3. A video game system havinga game supplier and a terminal device connected to the game supplierthrough a transmission line and said terminal device having a pluralityof game units, said video game system comprising:a first memory providedin the game supplier wherein a plurality of video game programs arestored; transmitting means for deriving a video game program from thefirst memory and for transmitting the program to the terminal devicethrough the transmission line; a second memory, provided in the terminaldevice, for storing the video game programs transmitted from the gamesupplier; a display, provided on each of the game units, for displayingthe video game program stored in the second memory; operating means foroperating the game unit; a charge receiving device, provided in eachgame unit, for receiving charge in order to execute the video gameprogram; a third memory, provided in the terminal device, for storinginformation on charge received by the charge receiving device;calculating means, provided in the game supplier, for retrieving theinformation on the charge stored in the third memory through thetransmission line and for calculating a charge for using the videoprograms in accordance with the information; and charging means,provided in the game supplier, for communication with a banking organ soas to draw out the charge calculated by the calculation means by way ofon-line processing.
 4. A video game system having a game supplier and aterminal device connected to the game supplier through a transmissionline and the terminal device having a plurality of game units, the videogame system comprising:a first memory provided in the game supplierwherein a plurality of video game programs are stored; transmittingmeans for deriving a video game program from the first memory and fortransmitting the program to the terminal device through the transmissionline; a second memory, provided in the terminal device, for storing thevideo game programs transmitted from the game supplier; a display,provided on each of the game units, for displaying the video gameprogram stored in the second memory; operating means for operating thegame unit; counting means, provided in each game unit, for countingnumber of playing times of each of the video game programs; a thirdmemory, provided in the terminal device, for storing information on thenumber of playing times; calculating means, provided in the gamesupplier, for retrieving the information on the number of playing timesstored in the third memory through the transmission line and forcalculating a charge for using the video programs in accordance with theinformation; and charging means, provided in the game supplier, forcommunication with a banking organ so as to draw out the chargecalculated by the calculating means by way of on-line processing.